As part of my transition into headship, Bellevue Education felt it important to provide me with, when needed, a mentor - to bounce ideas off, check in with and seek advice from. Nick Brain, who is head at Sherfield School, has kindly acted in this capacity for me this academic year. In our meeting on Friday, we discussed several areas, from leadership styles to financial management. We agreed that there had been a positive start to my tenure, and he was happy to see that, this late in the term, I maintained vigour and positivity. One question he asked towards the end of the meeting has stuck in my mind all weekend: ‘what are you doing to unwind? Because that’s as important as anything.’
The term ‘work-life balance’ probably came into use in the 1970s and 80s, as stressed baby boomers strove to achieve a balance between career, family and other areas of their lives. It has, however, taken on a new meaning with the recent technological changes that have made it possible for workers to stay in touch 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As the instruction to work from home, where possible, came from Boris Johnson, it initiated a blurring of the lines between private and professional life. Though I’ve been at work as normal since September, I’ve seen first hand how my wife has had to juggle her personal dedication to work with different expectations. It’s very tempting to say ‘one more email before bed’ or to prioritise professional duties when embroiled in a project, but more than ever, I’ve come to see that it’s vital to ensure that family and friends get the attention they deserve.
Of the many quotes extolling the virtues of investing time to find the right work-life balance, my favourite is by the American singer-songwriter Country megastar Dolly Parton. When one looks for examples of educational leadership, Parton is not the first name which comes to mind. However, she has contributed a staggering amount: a graduation scheme in her home town in Tennessee which has cut the high school dropout rate from 34% to 6% at a great personal cost to herself, funding additional teaching assistants and founding the Imagination Library, which just donated its 1 millionth free book to worthy children across the world. The following advice has always struck a chord with me:
“Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life.”
Even earlier in my career, when I didn’t have the responsibilities of marriage or fatherhood, I made a commitment to myself to stave off my tendencies towards being a ‘workaholic’. I have always stuck to one simple rule - never to work on a Saturday. Not only did it give me something to look forward to at the end of the week, but it served as valuable ‘me time’. This day has evolved from playing amateur football, to attending football as a season ticket holder, to, this past weekend, spending quality time with my wife and daughter. I have a range of interests away from my job - and I’m absolutely dedicated to ensuring that the words ‘husband’, ‘father’, ‘son’ and ‘friend’ define me as much as ‘Principal’ does.
I feel immensely fortunate to be part of such a supportive environment in my private life. My parents bestowed upon me a strong work ethic, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far in my career. I have been welcomed wholeheartedly by my wife’s family, and I have several friends who I know genuinely care about my wellbeing. That doesn’t mean I can’t seek to improve on a daily basis, or indeed set an example for others around me. Leading from the front is another theme which Nick and I spoke of on Friday. Showing the standards which you desire of colleagues and supplying the hard work to back it up sends an unmistakable message of solidarity. This pervades through my private life too. I simply want to be the best I can be, at everything I do. It’s a good habit to get into.
Going back to Dolly Parton, she is perhaps most famous for the song 9 to 5, a candid commentary on inequality in the workplace in the early 1980s. Though things were improving then for women, this remains a work-in-progress today. I’m a firm believer in the importance of staff ‘buy-in’ within education, and seeking the inspiration of a natural inclination within them to go above and beyond the normal expectations of work. This will only ever occur when staff are happy, and 9 to 5 is a cautionary tale of what can happen when this goes wrong. Several lines in the composition provide an excellent blueprint for the pitfalls of poor management, and I have worked hard in my first few months in charge to ensure that the staff at the College feel fulfilled at work.
It's all takin' and no givin'
Staff at the College used to be contracted until 5.30pm. In changing the timetable this year to hour long lessons, this brought an earlier finish. I made it clear to staff that when teaching commitments were complete, they were free to go. I trust staff to use time on their terms, and as a result, extra curricular contribution has expanded and staff are happier. I like to see myself as an approachable Principal, and many staff have needed dispensation to attend to important issues in their lives. Where I can, I grant it - and expect staff to give their all for the College in return.
Want to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me
In the College’s development plan for the year, one of our key three priorities is an investment in staff Continuing Professional Development. We want staff to get better, not because they feel pressured that they have to, but because they strive to. All staff have participated in our regular Friday CPD sessions, sharing best practice and benefiting from the expertise of others. All staff have attended exam board sessions to sharpen their practice, and we have more staff than ever enrolled in Bellevue Education staff development programmes. Appraisal at the College is collaborative and aimed at improving the output of the appraisee. I am dedicated to being a Principal who empowers, and does not place limitations on staff.
And they never give you credit
Much like when teaching in the classroom, the power of praise within the staffroom can be transformational. Where a member of staff performs above and beyond expectations, freely giving of their time and expertise to help our students, I make a point to acknowledge and value it. This can take the form of a congratulatory word during briefing, or in a thoughtful email to staff. Since the start of the year, I have tried to devise new ways to get praise across to students and parents. The College has an extremely personal approach to relationships, and this should also be the way forward with our staff. Coming to the end of my first term as Principal is a good time to reflect on the contribution of everyone within the Ealing Independent College family. I value their input greatly, and I will take the time to ensure this is made clear to them all, during what has been a challenging period for everyone.
Staff retention is vital for College stability, and we will continue to invest in it.